Both the Parks & Rec and Comprehensive Parks & Rec districts do not allow for all the uses proposed for Schott’s Lake - namely they do not allow for event facilities or motels/hotels. No other land use district within the Mountain View County Land Use Bylaw allows for both an event centre and a hotel or motel, so we have no choice but to craft a custom land use district. Because of this, we are seeking a direct control district that includes these uses as discretionary – meaning a development permit will still need to be approved prior to development. This is in line with other DC districts in Mountain View County, such as that for Cork & Crate Farms (a wedding/event venue) and the Heritage Centre near Cremona.

There is the potential for multi-day events to be held at the Event Centre, depending on the nature and needs of the event booking. The Hotel is proposed to provide overnight accommodations for a portion of Event Centre guests (up to 80 rooms with a maximum of 4 people per room). The family/group campsites are also available for this purpose (30 RV sites), as well as the existing campsites on the east side of the resort (50 RV sites, 4 tent sites) and proposed cabins (12 total). Taking all accommodation styles into account, and assuming guests will be staying in pairs or groups, there are enough accommodations on the resort for all 250 Event Centre attendees across the entire property.

However, current events held at the Schott’s Lake conference centre (including things like weddings and family reunions) typically have a mix of people staying at the resort as well as attendees staying in other places outside of Schott’s Lake. Plenty of County locals also attend events at the resort, where they return home in the evenings. We anticipate similar overnight trends for the future event centre.

The internal traffic associated with the Event Centre and Hotel (i.e. traffic within the property itself) will be managed using a new road network to expedite movement associated with these new developments through the western portion of the resort, keeping event traffic away from the existing campsites and lodge on the eastern portion.

Although the Event Centre can hold up to 250 people, we will not be incorporating 250 parking spaces in order to limit the development impact on the land and preserve as much forest & natural vegetation as possible. Although we don’t have the specific parking layout or design yet, we expect to have 100 or less parking stalls to align with industry standards and general vehicle passenger assumptions.

The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) identified the need for a minor road widening at this intersection to accommodate a new left-turning lane for traffic moving eastbound along Highway 584. This road widening will take place in the future as part of the Development Permit process associated with new development on the property.

The TIA results do not warrant a new right-turning lane or the need for traffic signals at this intersection, as the anticipated traffic volumes as a result of new development will be lower than the thresholds required for these road improvements.

There are policies and tools in place by the County and other governing bodies to manage developments like this, including operating licenses, safety & security reviews, and permitting processes. Conditions put in place by any Development Permits that Schott’s Lake may require as a result of the proposed development are permanent, meaning any new owners are subject to any special conditions as well. All of these will contribute to enforcing responsible operations with potential future owners of the resort.

The proposed expansion of Schott’s Lake will provide amenities that currently do not exist within the Sundre area – specifically event venues with accommodations, combined with camping and a farm-to-table restaurant. The proposal is also partially driven by increasing demand from residents of Mountain View County as well as visitors looking for larger-scale event spaces with accommodation options. The development of the Event Centre and Hotel will be a net benefit to the local economy, enhancing and supporting the existing motels/hotels in the area by providing more local options for guests, as well as potentially benefiting local restaurants, stores and cafes with people stopping on their way to or from the resort.

The ASP identifies Schott’s Lake as part of the Agricultural Preservation Land Use Policy Area, similar to the majority of privately owned land within the ASP area. The goal of this Land Use Area is to preserve the predominantly rural/agricultural community, direct non-agricultural uses to sites with lesser soil quality, and implement change gradually. The resort is also within Environmentally Sensitive Area 3 – Bentz Lake Upland Wetland Complex, which means future development must occur responsibly and in a manner consistent with the sustainability of surface and groundwater resources.

Although it may seem like the vision for Schott’s Lake is bringing a large number of people into the area, the design of the property and proposed buildings will be managed in a way to maintain the rurality and agricultural feel of the region (i.e. development is internal to the site – you wouldn’t know it was there unless you entered the property). The soil quality within the resort is also insufficient for farming and cultivation purposes, making it an ideal location for a non-agricultural use such as what we are proposing.

In terms of the ESA that Schott’s Lake falls within, the results of our studies provide suggested measures to mitigate impacts to sensitive wildlife & vegetation, as well as maintain natural stormwater & drainage systems to the best possible extent. The groundwater analysis confirmed that the proposed expansion can be sustainably supported with.

As for the planning goals outlined within the ASP, our proposal for the expansion of Schott’s Lake directly aligns with section 5.2.2. Planning Strategies, specifically items (f) and (g) that encourage the provision of a wide range of local recreational activities and diverse employment opportunities.

The Operational Plan includes strategies to protect the privacy and reduce potential impacts from resort guests on adjacent neighbours as well as the larger surrounding area. Strategies include building design and placement to focus activity towards the centre of the resort lands, with the loudest anticipated uses (such as the amphitheatre) planned for the East edge of the site adjacent to Crown lands and away from any neighbours. Landscape buffers will also be included around the perimeter of the property to retain the rural / woodland aesthetic & atmosphere outside of the resort.

We are unable to comment on potential impacts to local property taxes as land assessments are completed by the County and take a number of different factors into account.

For specific questions related to property taxes, please reach out to Mountain View County directly.

The lake on the property is regulated by the province under the provincial Water Act which governs the management and protection of waterbodies. Any development that may impact the waterbody, banks and riparian areas will be subject to approvals under the Act. The proposed development for Schott’s Lake does not impact these areas.

You can read more about the Water Act and other related resources on the Government of Alberta website.

Schott’s Lake does not intend to rent out or sell any of the RV lots available at the resort, both existing and proposed. The RV lots will remain bookable to guests according to the campground’s current operations.

Possible impacts to local data and communications networks are overseen by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and are outside the realm of land use redesignation applications. We encourage you to reach out to visit the CRTC’s website and reach out to them for more information.